Malawi govt says there is no abortion bill as hundreds join ‘March for Life’

As hundreds of ctitiens took to the streets across Malawi on Tuesday to expres their opposition to all forms of abortion and affirmed their support for the right to the natural family and the life of unborn children, government has said there in no ‘Abortion Bill’ that Parliament will debate.

Marchers hold a placardCatholic priests joined the march for life in BalakaMarchers hold a placard in BlantyreMarch for Life

Two of the country’s major religious groups—Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) and Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM)— organised the demonstrations following reports that Parliament will debate The Termination of Pregancy Bill to legalise abortion.

But Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Malison Ndau, who is also spokesman for the government, denies that there is an Abortion Bill ready for debate in the National Assembly.

“The truth of the matter is that the Law Commission has developed a Report and made recommendations to Government to adopt a new law on abortion.

“Currently, the law on abortion is governed by the Penal Code. Sections 149, 150, 151 and 243 of the Penal Code prohibit termination of pregnancy except where the life of the mother is threatened. This is the status of the law,” explained Ndau in a statement made available to Nyasa Times.

Ndau, however, said the Penal Code underwent review and the Law Commission came up with its Report in 2000.

“In that Report, the Commission recommended to Government to empanel another special Law Commission to review comprehensively the sections dealing with termination of pregnancy after clearly acknowledging the need to do so.

“The Report, which is the subject of the present controversy, is the result of the work of this other Commission which focused on issues of unsafe termination of pregnancy. This Report is yet to be submitted to Cabinet through the Minister of Justice for Cabinet’s consideration. This has not been done at this stage. It is important to emphasize that Reports of the Law Commission are merely recommendations to Government. It is the prerogative of Cabinet to adopt or reject any recommendations originating from the Law Commission,” he said/

Ndau said any information that there is an abortion Bill ready for debate in parliament is “misleading.”

But faith groups argued that the pro-life demonstrations were organised because life, family and marriage are under direct attack.

The organisers called the event ‘historical’

“We cannot install a culture of death in our country,” said one of a Catholic Christian who joined people donning all white t-shirts in the ‘march for life’.

“I marched to say yes to life,” Tarcicius Mbewe said.

EAM general secretary Reverend Francis Mkandawire and ECM counterpart Father Henry Saindi, said it was important to note that people support ‘pro-life’ advocacy.

Women’s rights activists and champions of safe motherhood, argue that giving women more reasons to safely terminate pregnancies in health facilities will reduce maternal deaths and costs of treating complications of unsafe abortions.

However, pro-life agents, especially religious leaders, say this will promote killing. They preach that life begins at conception,

Ministry of Health estimates that government spends up to K300 million annually treating almost 70 000 who seek post-abortal care every year.

Keith Lipato, a nurse-cum-midwife in Mulanje, finds the existing law gender-biased, saying it “favours impregnators” who die of abortions.

He laments: “If you and I end up with an unwanted pregnancy today, we will quickly find tablets to eliminate it safely. But what will a helpless, rural girl use? Sticks? Wires? Poisons?”

Kodi mumadziwa kuti a Mayi ake a President Robert Mugabe anapatsidya mimba ndi wa ntchito woweta ng’ombe?Anali Mmalawi.Anamuchotsa ntchito,Kodi akanataya mimbayo,lero comrade Mugabe tikanamudziwa.Many great people that we have today, were born out of untold circumstances and misery.God doesn’t make mistakes.Abortion is EVIL to HELL with it.

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2 years ago

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Nankhoma

Poorly attended demonstrations have shown that most people in Malawi are in support of the Abortion Bill. Shame on the Catholic church ECM and EAM you have realised that you do not have support with your bigoted march. As a Roman Catholic woman I want abortion to be legalised! The church and all those men in robes do not help us bring up children.

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2 years ago

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Elias ndamuwa

You must be one JEZABEL.check your spiritual life,you are just a catholic by tradition not by FAITH.

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2 years ago

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halu

MALAWI A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. MALAWIANS PEACEFUL PEOPLE. LET US SOBER UP AND FIND A BETTER SOLUTION TO DEAL WITH EVIL CALAMITY BEFALLING US. WE CAN DO BETTER IF WE STAND TOGATHER IN ONE NESS OTHER THAN BEING EMOTIONAL ON SOCIAL NETWORKS. ABORTION IS EVIL. ….PERIOD!

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2 years ago

Guest

FATSANI

MLOMWE kkkkkkk be sober don’t attack personalities bring facts. The fact is Abortion is a deadly sin. We will never allow it. If my mum had aborted ooooooooooooh amfana anga sakanabadwa

Malawians, following teachings by the Church blindly. Adapt an abortions law that is relevant to the severe poverty that defines our country. Think about who cares for the children. The Church? Last time I checked, it was the parents and relatives; and the Church was just after monetary benefits such as tithe. Give us an example of a modern society that got destroyed because of allowing women to abort? None. Let women make decisions that are in their best interest, so that they can get on with life. Look at all the leaders marching in these demos – almost all… Read more »

The article is so biased! The ending is so scary- what does the rural women to abort?! Answers- ‘sticks, wires and poisons! So what should we do to avoid this?! Answer- safe abortion law?! Bishops, Priests, Reverends, Apostles, Prophets and other religious bigots go rooting and marching instead of reflecting on the best alternative! Religion as we religate logic!

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2 years ago

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Ndumanene Silungwe

Gist of The Matter As Christians – I mean those that are in a relationship with Christ and His Word, faith in the WORD must also be matched with action (works). I mean it is in order for them to go out there and proclaim what it is that Christ has spoken, so that they can exonerate themselves from a proverbial foolish watchman who having seen a robber coming chose not to raise an alarm or blow a trumpet until the robbery was accomplished. We are living in evil days and we need people that can put on the wholistic… Read more »

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2 years ago

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Elias ndamuwa

I salute you mr Silungwe,to me you are a true PRO-LIFE defender.

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2 years ago

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C4

I am a medical professional but I still uphold my Christian values, l believe life needs to be protected at all cost no matter what we might tell our selves there is nothing like safe abortions as long as there is death of another its no longer safe. Ndumanene Silungwe I love your comments very substanciated. I am Pro life